Can you get a ticket if a yellow light turns red in Texas? What the law says
You’re coming up on a green light when it suddenly turns yellow. You hesitate for a second but decide to keep going.
Halfway through the intersection, the light turns red.
It’s a common situation that can leave you wondering if you technically just broke the law.
In Texas, the answer depends on timing and whether stopping was actually an option.
Here’s what to know.
Is it illegal to go through a yellow light in Texas?
The Texas Transportation Code says a steady yellow light is meant to warn drivers that the light is about to turn red.
But it doesn’t say whether you have to stop or keep going.
“By itself, proceeding through a yellow light would not justify a traffic ticket,” Texas attorney Brian White said. “In other words, running a yellow light is legal in Texas because you are not required to stop.”
That’s where judgment comes in. The law expects drivers to stop only if they can do so safely.
If stopping suddenly could cause a crash or isn’t realistic based on your speed and distance, you’re allowed to continue through the intersection.
When could I get a ticket for a yellow light in Texas?
White said a police officer could issue a ticket if other factors come into play while you’re going through a yellow light.
That could include speeding to beat it, being distracted, or entering the intersection too late as it turns red.
In some situations, it can even be considered negligence. For example, if a driver has enough time to safely stop but chooses not to and ends up causing a crash, that decision could be used against them.
“To show negligence, you do not need to prove the driver knew they acted negligently. Instead, you only need to show that the driver should have known better,” White said.
To avoid getting cited, the key is making sure you fully clear the intersection before the light turns red if you decide to go through it.
If any part of your car is still in the intersection once the signal turns red, that’s when you could run into trouble.
While a yellow light alone doesn’t come with a penalty, running a red light does.
In Texas, running a red light is a Class C misdemeanor and can come with a fine ranging from $155 to $286, along with the possibility of higher insurance costs.
This story was inspired by previous reporting from the Star-Telegram’s Tiffani Jackson.
